As tropical storm Debby passed overhead last week, I wanted to share some important news about my team’s ongoing efforts to address the continuing threat of flooding in Orange County.
With an eye toward ensuring we not only build back, but build back smarter following severe storms, my office has secured a commitment from the Department of Environmental Conservation to perform a Resilient NY Watershed study of the Moodna Creek. Given the network of tributaries within the watershed, the study will encapsulate a wide range of communities in eastern and central OC. This study will help identify the specific local causes of flooding and develop sustainable mitigation projects for each municipality.
Through this process, a detailed roadmap will emerge of existing infrastructure issues that cause chronic flooding as well as laying out steps to resolve those issues, including funding sources and recommendations as granular as the width of a culvert or bridge.
We have just observed the one-year anniversary of last July’s catastrophic storm that devastated much of eastern Orange County and seen yet another week of unpredictable storms and rain. I am ever mindful of the increasing frequency of severe weather and flooding in so many local communities, which is why our office has worked so hard to tap all possible resources to better prepare for the future. This study is a vital step on the path toward ensuring Orange County’s long-term safety and sustainability.
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